Writing tips &

Toulmin’s Theory of Argumentation

Professor Duane Truex CIS department & Institute of International Business

2012

Professor Truex Organizational Information Systems

Writing Feedback(1) : Plagiarism

  Representing someone else’s words and thoughts as your own.   It is wrong, it is against the rules   It will result in a failing grade or worse (see the syllabus)

  Even in a simple case analysis ATTRIUBTE YOUR SOURCES

  IF you are quoting then enclose by quotes and identify the source and page number

  IF you are paraphrasing then say something akin to:   according to xxx …   The authors say that…

  The general principle is FULL DISCLOSURE, when in doubt err towards the conservative.

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Feedback(2) : Grammar

  Seek grammatical clarity and simplicity as well as correctness.

  Pay attention to the noun objects, e.g., A system, the developers, an organization

  Be ruthless with verb noun agreement in tense and plural vs. singular use.

  To whom or what does your pronoun refer?   They were… --WHO were??

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Feedback(3) –Rhetorical points

 Make a transition between paragraphs

  Support all points/claims. Do not assume that the reader will follow, lead her.

  Beware of gratuitous throw-away and filler statements like:   As everybody knows (they don’t)   It is obvious or obviously (It rarely is ‘obvious’)   It is inevitable, right like the stock market will

keep going up

Professor Truex Organizational Information Systems

Feedback(4) : Logical flow   Seek parsimony and clarity

  Do you include the five W’s (Who, what, why, when and where)

  Should you write in the “royal‘We’”? Passive tense? First person?   It is your analysis, first person is acceptable.

  Be mindful of verb tense: past, present, future, future perfect

  ALL claims must be supported by warrants to the claim’s efficacy and correctness!   Go to the theories of argumentation web site

  To whom or what does your pronoun refer?   They were… --WHO were??

  Limit the use of buzz words and abbreviations (and always make abbreviations clear when they are used)

Professor Truex Organizational Information Systems

Toulmin's Layout of Argumentation

Rhetorical instantiation of principles derived from formal logic.

Professor Truex Organizational Information Systems

See the University of Nebraska-Lincoln “Toulmin Project” website at : http://www.unl.edu/speech/comm109/Toulmin/

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Toulmin Project “…is designed to teach interested individuals about a theory of argumentation developed by Stephen Toulmin. Toulmin's theory is used in a variety of communication classes including our Fundamentals of Communication course, Public Speaking, Business and Professional Speaking, Communication Theory, Interpersonal Communication, and others. This theory is also used in some philosophy and english composition courses. The purpose of the web site is to introduce students to the theory so that they can use it to evaluate arguments or to construct their own. By clicking the buttons below, you can move through the web site.”

Professor Truex Organizational Information Systems

Feedback(5) –

Rhetorical and Style pointers   Make a bridge or transition between

paragraphs

  Support points/claims

  Beware of gratuitous throw-away and filler statements like:   As everybody knows (they don’t)   It is obvious or obviously (It rarely is ‘obvious’)   It is common knowledge that…   The general assumption is….

  Most parenthetical phrases (you know the added mid sentence material) appear to be after thoughts.   If it is important enough to include make it a

separate sentence. Otherwise dump it.

Professor Truex Organizational Information Systems

Feedback(6) –Document format and style   Do Not use bullet points in the write up. Use but

full sentences in well-formed paragraphs and, if needed, enumerated lists.

  12 pt type, double space between paragraphs. Make it visibly easy on the reader’s eye.